Check out our interview with digital multi-entrepreneur Lindsey Heppner, CEO, and Founder of one of the most recognizable influencer agencies, VAMPPED, and the podcast REVAMPPED.
Heppner has become a mogul in the social media marketing world, founding VAMPPED more than 7 years ago she has completely changed how influencers and social media are perceived. She started the concept ‘influencer tours’ that REVOLVE and many other companies since then have integrated. She quickly discovered a need in the market for managing the influencers at the same time as creating and producing campaigns for global brands; a successful recipe it turned out.
With Covid19 and not being able to travel, Heppner had to reinvent her whole business foundation. This led to the start of the REVAMPPED podcast, which hosts some of today’s biggest CEO’s, influencers, and celebs.
Follow Lindsey @linzheppner
Describe yourself in 3 words
Fearless, Innovative, Transparent
How did you get into the industry
I started out as a model, I knew modeling had a really short shelf life so I decided to learn everything modeling had to offer. I would study the sales teams, the design teams, watched how creative director’s handled, – I basically went around to all my modeling jobs and tried to figure out how they did everything. I knew that if I gained all the knowledge, it would one day help me to build my own business. It took a really bad car accident for me to quit my corporate job designing. Vampped has been my alter ego, loud, aggressive, and bulldozing the space. I wanted to make an agency that was a culture and community to want to be a part of – where you felt safe and yourself alongside creating what you wanted to create.
How often do you release content?
I try to release a new piece of content at least every day or every other day. I def Instagram stories every day but I always want to make interesting content for my feed which makes people understand more of who I am as a human being and really showcasing my art.
How’s your typical day look like?
Slammed. I’m either on 10,000 zoom calls or painting or creating and re-branding for a client.
How do you describe your fashion style?
Unpredictable. I like to play the part. If I’m going to a rock show I will be in all leather, if I’m going to a skate park, I will look like a skater girl, if I’m showing up to an art event, I will look like I’m a creative art dealer. My style is really catered to my surroundings and I want people to feel something when they see my style. I would say it’s very “creatively boyish”
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully married with 2-4 kids, creating + painting, becoming a motivational speaker, and writing a book.
What do you think about social media?
It’s a love/hate thing for me. I love it when I can shut it off and step away, buts it’s also the main tool to my business and why I have been so successful. I think you have to really have boundaries with the platform and take things for face value sometimes. You don’t have to always get so consumed with it and think it’s reality, cause it’s not. Your reality is off of your phone.
Name one of your strengths?
I have a way with people. I don’t know what it is, but I am able to sell a pencil back to you that was already yours. I have so much code of conduct that people immediately trust me and trust what I preach and I really think that not that many people have that skill in business or in their personal life.
Best advice ever given?
Be yourself. Don’t ever assume that people want another version of you, cause in the long run you aren’t going to be happy and you are going to disappoint everyone else who thought you were someone else.
Photo Credit: @laurenalexandra_photography
